Montjeu colt beats well-regarded Cityscape

The Mark Johnston-trained Jukebox Jury (Montjeu - Mare Aux Fees, by Kenmare) ran out an impressive winner of the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile on Saturday, a race the Middleham handler had previously won with subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Mr Baileys.

Ridden by Royston Ffrench, Jukebox Jury missed the break and had to be hustled along to get into the race. Turning into the straight, the challengers lined up behind the leader Firth Of Fifth, with Vintage Stakes winner Orizaba the first to buckle as he tracked the well-backed maiden winner Cityscape. Jukebox Jury ran on strongly on the rail as he also tracked Roger Charlton's colt, before ducking wider a furlong out to get a clear run. He flew home from there, overhauling Cityscape and getting up to win somewhat comfortably by a length.

A maiden winner at Goodwood on debut in August, Jukebox Jury was then pitched into Listed company, where he was beaten seven lengths by Soul City, and then Group Three company, where he improved to get within a length and a quarter of the same rival.

A €270,000 Deauville August purchase, Jukebox Jury is a half brother to Group Three winner Belle Allure and Listed winners The Mask and Belle Allure.

Johnston told the BBC after the race: "It was tight but it couldn't have been better. He had a bad start and Royston said he nearly unshipped coming out of the stalls.

"Right from the beginning I have been tempted to go up in class. Johnny Murtagh won on him first time and he said to give him an easy time because he's a little bit quirky and thinks about it a bit, but even the last time Johnny rode in France he said to go for a Listed race and put him away. But I looked at this and couldn't resist it.

"We thought he would win in France the second time but when Joe Fanning hit him he ran into the stick and when he hit him again, he went right across track."

Eva's Request on top in Rosemary Handicap

The earleir Listed Fasig-Tipton Rosemary Handicap was won by the Mick Channon-trained Eva's Request (Soviet Star - Ingabelle, by Taufan), a Group Three winner as a juvenile last year who was recording a first win in eight starts at three.

Ridden by Eddie Creighton, Eva's Request strode clear of the pack in the final furlong and a half to comfortably hold Mekong Melody by a length. The favourite Ghaidaa ran on wide to take third.